Amy Ewing

Just after the events of The Jewel, Violet finds herself needing to escape from the Duchess, the woman who wants her to be a surrogate mom for an heir. Ash is in the dungeon and she must trust Lucien, a lady-in-waiting who has big plans for Violet but has been awfully close-lipped about exactly what that entails.

I compared the first book in this trilogy to The Selection, but I found myself making that comparison less and less as this story went on. It's fast-paced brain candy: there were a show more few big reveals, but the cliffhanger didn't leave me shocked because I'd already figured it out. I had the sense that it could really have been a stronger story if all three books were merged into one and some of the extraneous dithering were cut out. I'll probably read the last book, but I feel no need to rush out and get it immediately when it comes out. show less

"Hope is a precious thing, isn't it," she says quietly. "And yet, we don't really appreciate it until it's gone."

I'm sure there would have been a time that I would have enjoyed this story. Learning the augeries and their skills was interesting. Even the auction and the different areas they each came from was interesting. Once Violet was placed, learning the intricacies of the houses and dukes and whatnot was confusing and the story started losing me.

But honestly - I was done at Ash. This show more story just didn't need it. I thought Violet was an interesting enough character and I liked her little defiances even if I found them foolish. But adding this additional story line just absolutely ruined it.

If I keep reading, it will only be to find out if there is more to Garnet than meets the eye. show less

My name is Sera Lighthaven. I am a Cerulean and I am going home.

I dunno what I just read but I think I liked it?

Half of this is an alien girl trying to go home, and her fellow alien friend trying to seek her out. The other half is the sparring kids of a rich p-playwright(??), trying to carve themselves a little corner where their father or the reputation of their family can't get to them.

It's weird. There's a talking tree. A little water creature that lights up like a rainbow when it show more speaks. A literal city in the sky and the utopia of lesbians atop it. I seriously think I can just keep listing things as I try to figure out what my thesis is.

I mean, I enjoyed it, but it's a stable, inoffensive 3 stars because for all it's weird parts, it never really went there. It mostly was just a serious of slow pitches and idle curiosities. show less

I'm often left at the end of reading some of these wondering about what happens next. What will they do with the trauma and will they actually manage to have relationships that aren't shaded by all the shenanigans I have to wonder.
Anyway, Violet is now part of the resistance and they develop a plan for the next surrogate auction when plans go awry because Violet's sister Hazel is imprisoned in the palace of the Lake. It all screams trap and while Violet acknowledges it she still decides to show more go in and try to save her. Ah, teens and poor impulse control. It was an interesting ride and everything goes well for the heroes. They also learn a bit about how some people survive the society they're in, sometimes in different ways. The whole violence to achieve a cause is glanced at but not delved into.
And if I'm honest I'd love the dress on the cover. show less